 Many buildings of the period were known as blocks, usually multi-story and multi-business, the buildings contained retail and professional space or, in the case of George's Block, lecture halls or auditoriums.In the first year the building existed such famous men as Horace Greeley, Charles Sumner and Bayard Taylor spoke there.The houses in the Sycamore Historic District cross a variety of architectural styles and span from the 1830s to the early 20th century.